Mark 8:1-211In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away. 10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. 13And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. 14Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? (Mark 8:1‑21)
There was much wild, grassy land on the sides of the mountains near the shores of the sea of Galilee, where the Lord Jesus taught the people, who came in great numbers from the villages around to hear His words, or to be healed. They may have gone to their homes at night, but they returned the next day, for Jesus said,
“They have now been with Me three days.”
Jesus knew they had no food with them that evening, and He was very sorry for them, He said, “If I send them away fasting (without eating) to their houses, they will faint by the way: for divers (many) of them came from far.”
The disciples had a few loaves of bread, and a few small fish, but there was no place near to get more. Not long before this Jesus had made the few loaves and the fish one boy had become enough to feed more than 5000 people. This probably was not the same place, or the same people, but Jesus supplied their need in the same wonderful way.
He said for the people to sit down on the ground: He took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God, broke them in pieces, and gave to the disciples to pass to the people. By His power, that bread and fish was not only enough for all the big company, but more than enough, showing His power could not all be used, however much was needed.
The people who ate that meal must have sat in great surprise, and later, as they walked to their homes they must have talked together and wondered. How well they were repaid for their long walks over the rough ways: they had listened to One from Heaven, and been fed by Him! Many believed He was a very great Teacher and Prophet, and about this time the disciples said they believed He was the Christ, who was the One promised to come to earth.
Later those who believed the scriures, and the words of Jesus, learned that He who took so humble a place on earth, was the One Who in the beginning, had created all things, and was also the Giver and Sustainer of life. One disciple afterward wrote: “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life.” John 1:3,43All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:3‑4); see also Colossians 1:16,1716For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16‑17).
A few days after the miracles of the loaves, Jesus told some of the people that He was “the Bread of life.”
The bread He supplied the two meals, satisfied them only a short time; the next day they must have more. But all who believed Him should be satisfied with life forever (see John 6:3535And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)).
It is nice for us to notice in these miracles, that Jesus used the food which someone had, to make more. That showed His kindness, and that it is His way to bless even a little that is given to Him, making a very great blessing for others.
Althought Jesus had done as no one of earth could, He soon after had to remind the disciples of the two miracles, for them to remember Who He was. (vss. 19,20.)
ML 03/05/1944